Back in March, the BBBofC ordered this fight for the vacant British title. In the end Joyce fought Bryant Jennings instead, allowing Dubois to face Nathan Gorman and win the belt. It’d now be an ideal contest for the vacant European title at the end of 2019, however Joyce’s team have repeatedly expressed their desire to face fringe world level contenders rather than Dubois at present.
2. Errol Spence vs Terence Crawford
⚖️ Welterweight World Titles
11
After beating Shawn Porter, Spence holds two of the welterweight titles with Crawford and Manny Pacquiao possessing the others. A battle between the two American pound-for-pound rated stars is one of the best that could be made in boxing today, however, promotional conflicts between Bob Arum’s Top Rank (who represent Crawford) and Al Haymon’s PBC (who represent Spence) look likely to prevent it for the time being.
3. Mikey Garcia vs Regis Prograis/Josh Taylor
⚖️ Super-Lightweight World Titles
11
On October 26, the consensus top two super-lightweights in the world - Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor - will meet in the WBSS tournament final. Not long ago, Garcia was an elite world champion in this division and it’d be great to see him now return to challenge whoever takes his place, following his unsuccessful jump up to welterweight. Sadly, it appears neither Prograis nor Taylor quite have the profile to make this fight a big enough payday for Garcia to justify the risk yet.
4. Vasyl Lomachenko vs Gervonta Davis
⚖️ Lightweight World Titles
11
Davis is one of the top-rated youngsters in the sport and recently vacated his super-featherweight title to move up. In the lightweight division, Lomachenko currently reigns supreme with three of the major belts. You’d think Davis would now have to challenge Loma, however, it appears the WBA may make a new ‘regular’ belt for him if he faces Yuriorkis Gamboa instead. His team at Mayweather Promotions appear in no hurry to put him in with the Ukrainian.
5. Ryan Garcia vs Devin Haney
⚖️ Lightweight
11
Elsewhere in the lightweight division, two of America’s hottest young talents are on the rise. 21-year-old Garcia is 18-0 and 20-year-old Haney is 23-0. While Haney appears further along in his development so far, a match-up between them at this stage would be a rare treat as it’s far more probable those guiding their careers will keep them apart until they can generate big money in future.
6. Callum Smith vs Billy Joe Saunders
⚖️ Super-Middleweight World Titles
11
Smith and Saunders are both British, both unbeaten, both super-middleweight world champions and both have the same promoter – Eddie Hearn. Nevertheless, Hearn has disappointingly stated the pair are due to make defences of their titles against other opponents at the end of this year and may meet in 2020 instead.Credit: Getty
7. Demetrius Andrade vs Jermall Charlo
⚖️ Middleweight World Title
11
With Canelo Alvarez elevated to the WBC’s ‘franchise’ champion status, Charlo was recently made WBC ‘regular’ middleweight champion with many confused as to whether he should be considered a legitimate champion. One way to resolve this would be to match him against WBO title-holder Andrade – a fellow unbeaten American who is also struggling to get big fights elsewhere. Again, promotional conflicts will almost certainly stand in the way.
8. Oleksandr Usyk vs Joseph Parker/Derek Chisora
⚖️ Heavyweight
11
After becoming undisputed cruiserweight king last year, Usyk has now scheduled his heavyweight debut against Tyrone Spong. Assuming he comes through as expected, the Ukrainian would face the perfect test if matched against the winner of Chisora vs Parker. Sadly, though, both Usyk and that winner will be well positioned to get heavyweight title shots in their own right and so would not need to risk their positions.
9. Josh Warrington vs Gary Russell Jr
⚖️ Featherweight World Titles
11
IBF champion Warrington repeatedly stated he was desperate to unify his title against Oscar Valdez or Leo Santa Cruz this year, though neither have come to fruition with the pair instead moving up in weight. The other champion in the division is Russell Jr and he doesn’t have a fight scheduled, however these days he only competes once a year and so Josh is headed for a voluntary defence instead.
10. Anthony Yarde vs Joshua Buatsi
⚖️ Light-Heavyweight
11
Having just suffered defeat to Sergey Kovalev in a valiant world title challenge, it’d be understandable for those guiding Yarde to want to build him back up first, but a far more exciting move would be to stage a clash of British contenders between himself and the unbeaten Buatsi. Promotional conflicts between Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn also stand in the way.
